Dear Daughter-I this cold blustering night (for winter is here
in its pure white robe), seat myself within my cotton house (tent)
beside a small stove which is stewing green wood at quite a slow
rate and indeed that is much better than none-but at home I would
not sit by such a fire to write you. I have never received but one
letter from you-and that was written at home. I know your time is
occupied with your studies and dont expect you to write verry
often-although I could like verry much to hear from you every
day-and I think you might write to me pretty often and not neglect
your studies either. How do you like school-and your schoolmates
and your teachers-or preceptress, what are you studying. You must
not expect to be delighted for a time, with your new associations,
and your studies for a while may seem dry & irksome but the
more you learn, the more easy will it be, for you to learn and soon
you will be delighted with your duties as a student. No one ever
made a scholar without labouring for it. What an accomplishment for
a lady to sing and play upon the piano. Fine dresses never did, nor
never will make a Lady. But a mind, and heart, and hands-all nicely
cultivated-constitute the real Lady. Then my beloved Daughter, let
me with a Fathers affection, urge you to labour to become, an
educated Lady. Dont get impatient-dont expect to learn everything
in a month or a year-but be cheerful and kind to your schoolmates.
Persevere-and soon you will rejoice-that you have such favourable
opportunities to become educated. And O when you have got an
education-then how you will rejoice and thank me for impressing
these things upon you mind at the proper time. I am confident if
you live you will accomplish what I verry much desire and which is
expressed in the foregoing lines-then be industrious rise early in
the morning and all will be pleasant and agreeable. Love God and
serve him and you will be happy.

No war news here that amounts to anything. We can hear the
rebels on the other side the Rappahanock playing upon Drums and
brass bands. Our pickets talk across the river with theirs. We can
see some of their canons and fortifications.